Austin's Turner-Roberts Recreation Center to Remain Closed Indefinitely

c'o city of Austin

With the closing of the Turner-Roberts Recreation Center in Austin, completely leaves a void in the neighborhood it was built to accommodate. In 2008, the long awaited Colony Park Recreation Center, now named for Dorothy Turner and Velma Roberts, who long fought for this parks and recreation project to be established in this neighborhood, within the city of Austin.Turner and Roberts, who founded the Black Citizen's Task Force, were avid civil rights activist for the voiceless in East Austin.

c'o city of Austin

In September of 2011, the community found out that the recreation center was scheduled for closing to repair construction errors that had been created from a lack of oversight on behalf of the Parks And Recreation Department.

In April 2011, MLAW Consultants and Engineers were hired to do a preliminary report of findings. Also a revised copy was sent out in May 2011, to which it was stated that "Construction errors appeared to have contributed to the majority of the distress and non-performance of the foundation and some of the concrete masonry unit walls." It was also mentioned that there were three leaks found under the gymnasium floor, that may have had an impact on the floor shifting. There were drainage issues near the back and sides of the building from the air conditioning and also from rain storms that would accumulate.

Journeyman Construction, who was the general contractor on the project, wasn't available for comment. We also tried contacting Victoria Air Conditioning and Phoenix Irrigation who were also unavailable for comment. Journeyman Construction received nearly Four million dollars for this project.

With the closing of this much needed rec center and the sudden explosion of gang activity, creates a unique situation for the residents of Colony Park, Lakeside, Sendero Hills, and LBJ neighborhoods.

All interested parties should attend the meeting below and call for some action to be taken within the Parks and Recreation Department for the lack of oversight when it comes to East Austin. Now is the time residents let city officials know, that this will no longer be tolerated as business as usual on the east side.

c'o city of Austin

On Tuesday November 15th, the Parks and Recreation Department, along with the city of Austin, will have a public meeting to inform interested citizens about the future of Turner-Roberts Recreation Center, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Overton Elementary Cafeteria, located at 7201 Colony Loop Drive Austin, Tx 78724

This rec center is directly tied to Colony Park and spoken of in this article written previously on Yahoo News


about the La Familia Cartel.






La Familia Cartel involved in Mexican politics. Dated 11/12/11